Is this cylinder head clean enough?

[Acheron]

Needs to be pressure tested and possibly skimmed, do i need to do more work on it or will this be ok for the engineers to work with/me put it back together? As you can see, im really struggling to get all the valves totally clean, and have even put some mild scratches in one of the exhaust valves on #4, hope this isnt going to be a big problem.

[white90]

What are the Valve seats like?

[thinfourth2]

If it is getting skimmed it might be worth you removing the valves.

Not a hard job if you have the right tools but damn fiddly

[Acheron]

white90 said:

What are the Valve seats like?

Well, all 4 valves on #2 and 2x inlet valves on #2 are slightly raised and not flush into the head. They are free moving in terms of the slightest amount of pressure and they spin around (the exhaust ones this is, inlet dont move).

This could just be the cam pushing down on them as they were like that when i took it off. The valves on 3&4 are all sat nice and tight.

[Acheron]

Bump

[thinfourth2]

Acheron said:

white90 said:

What are the Valve seats like?

Well, all 4 valves on #2 and 2x inlet valves on #2 are slightly raised and not flush into the head. They are free moving in terms of the slightest amount of pressure and they spin around (the exhaust ones this is, inlet dont move).

This could just be the cam pushing down on them as they were like that when i took it off. The valves on 3&4 are all sat nice and tight.

If the cam is still in the head then that sounds perfectly normal.

[Eggman]

I have put heads on cars looking much less clean than that several times and have not yet had a problem. What's important is that it is flat and there are no lumps of gasket or carbon deposits that'll prevent the new gasket from sealing properly - you don't need to get it so clean you would eat your dinner off it.

Similarly, as long as the insides of the cylinders don't have any heavy carbon deposits that might start glowing red hot and making the engine pink, that's good enough for me.

[fluffnik]

[Eggman]

I wouldn't bother with that unless I knew there to be a problem. If the valves are coming out, you'll be able see what the seats look like. If you're feeling keen you could use some Engineer's Blue to establish whether they need anything doing.

[Acheron]

Cheers guys, going to leave valves as they are then.

Get it tested, hopefully it will all come back ok, then can get it back on the car. If that works, the mystery will be complete, the previous seller said the head was cracked, i cant confirm this though :S

[Acheron]

doogz said:

Acheron said:

Cheers guys, going to leave valves as they are then.

Get it tested, hopefully it will all come back ok, then can get it back on the car. If that works, the mystery will be complete, the previous seller said the head was cracked, i cant confirm this though :S

6 valves aren't shutting properly and you're just leaving them?

The engine was running fine as it was with the exception of using coolant prior to head removal. I suspect the cam pressure is what is pushing these valves out.

[Acheron]

doogz said:

Acheron said:

doogz said:

Acheron said:

Cheers guys, going to leave valves as they are then.

Get it tested, hopefully it will all come back ok, then can get it back on the car. If that works, the mystery will be complete, the previous seller said the head was cracked, i cant confirm this though :S

6 valves aren't shutting properly and you're just leaving them?

The engine was running fine as it was with the exception of using coolant prior to head removal. I suspect the cam pressure is what is pushing these valves out.

So grab the end of the cam and rotate it to see?

Wont i screw up the timing when i go to put it back together?

[Eggman]

Some heads crack inside. From what I remember of the thread where you posted pictures of it just off, somebody pointed out a spot where it looked a bit like the head gasket might have failed. Fingers crossed it'll be fine.

ETA: You'll have to time it up anyway when you put it back in. It won't hurt to check they open and close properly. (Actually, it wouldn't hurt to whip the valves out; it shouldn't be a very big job, and you can replace the valve stem oil seals whilst you're at it. You'll probably find them included in the gasket set - istr they were when I did my the job on my Cavalier).

Edited by Eggman on Wednesday 26th January 21:21

[OlberJ]

Possibly, so get the cam shaft marked and the head marked so you can time it back up.

[Acheron]

doogz said:

Acheron said:

doogz said:

Acheron said:

doogz said:

Acheron said:

Cheers guys, going to leave valves as they are then.

Get it tested, hopefully it will all come back ok, then can get it back on the car. If that works, the mystery will be complete, the previous seller said the head was cracked, i cant confirm this though :S

6 valves aren't shutting properly and you're just leaving them?

The engine was running fine as it was with the exception of using coolant prior to head removal. I suspect the cam pressure is what is pushing these valves out.

So grab the end of the cam and rotate it to see?

Wont i screw up the timing when i go to put it back together?

Do you have the pulleys still attached and locked together with the appropriate tool, or loads of zip ties?

If not, you've arsed up the timing already. Given how much you've managed so far, putting it back together and setting the timing won't be too tricky.

Thats true, ive got the sprockets and chain all tied up at the moment, like someone else said, i can always mark it up on the head.

I hope after all this effort the head isnt cracked

[Ritchie335is]

If you have the cam out and want to check for cracks/burnt valve seats prop the head up on the bench level and pour wd40 into the chambers. Leave overnight and you will soon see if there are any leaks.